Being the first of anything is not easy. No one could possibly prepare you for the job. Imagine the first night surrounded by strangers and you are converted into a glorified prisoner with limited freedoms. Imagine, your former friends trying to cross institutional roadblocks just to say hello. Imagine the expectations of the people that had been waiting so much for the promise of independence. Then juxtapose the enthusiasm and expectations of independence with the scope of the job of a Prime Minister. The picture in your mind the flight…

CONFERENCES | EXHIBITIONS | INDUSTRY AWARDS Education is one of the most powerful instruments for reducing poverty and inequality, and lays a foundation for sustained economic growth. This is no truer than in sub-Saharan Africa where poverty is high and opportunities plentiful. In South Africa alone 20 percent of annual government expenditure is invested in education, amounting to R254-billion. Spintelligent’s Education portfolio comprises of industry leading events, African EduWeek and Career Indaba. The Education portfolio holds a unique media partnership agreement with national and international broadcaster Mutlichoice, to provide unprecedented…

Reaching out to women and girls at the bottom of the pyramid requires more than merely ensuring access to ICTs and broadband networks. Women need training to become digitally literate. Digital literacy training opens the door to other essential skills needed to operate in a broadband environment, including financial literacy skills, as well as career training and ICT-enabled career training. Such training enables women to set up online businesses, or to use broadband services, such as social networking sites, to enhance their ongoing livelihood and economic activity. ITU has developed…

Think back to the last team project you participated in at work. How did the person running the project lead the group? Did they lead by presenting a plan and using their authority to insist that others follow along? Or did the person instead lead by explaining why a particular course of action seemed like the best one, allowing others to willfully get on board? These two leadership styles, which I and other researchers refer to as dominance and prestige, respectively, reflect two fundamental strategies people use to navigate their…

CAPE TOWN – Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan will deliver his annual Budget speech in Parliament on Wednesday evening. But for Gordhan and his team it will be a tough budget to deliver against the backdrop of a rumoured cabinet reshuffle – with him and his deputy, Mcebisi Jonas’s heads said to be on the chopping block. The rand extended its losses against the dollar on Tuesday ahead of Gordhan’s annual speech. The nomination of former Eskom CEO Brian Molefe to Parliament added to speculation of an imminent reshuffle‚ sending the…